Elastic copolyureas from secondary diamines and process for making the same



ELASTIC COPOLYUREAS FRGM SECONDARY DI- Is;AMl[NES AND PROCESS FOR MAKING THE August Henry Frazer, Wilmington, DeL, and Joseph Clois Shivers, Jan, West hester, Pa., assignors to E. Ldu Pout tie Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Ne Drawing. Application January 31, 1955 Serial No. 485,292

16 Claims. (Cl. 260-77.5)

This invention relates to new linear polymers comprising ureas linked to polyethers through urethane groups and especially to the elastic products obtained with certain compositions. This invention relatesv particularly to the filaments prepared from these copoly ureas.

to improve the dyeability and wearing comfort of the synthetic fibers. One approach has been to attempt to modify suitably the properties of the polymers which have gained commercial acceptance. A more difficult but potentially more fruitful long range approach is to synthesize new polymers free of the deficiencies of those now available. There is a particular need in textile and allied fields for a synthetic material which possesses a number of disadvantages for textile applications that tend to offset its desirable elastic properties. It is, therefore, desirable to find anew material which is highly elastic, has a higher modulus and better abrasion resistance than rubber, and which is particularly suited to the preparation of filaments, but which does not possess the undesirable characteristics of rubber.

melt temperature and a low perature. These and other the following discussion.

The objects of this invention are accomplished by utilizing a rapid, smooth polymerization technique which produces a linear polymer ofthe desired chemical composition and physical characteristics. A linear polyether/urethane/urea copolymer is preparedv by polymerizing a secondary diamine, a polyether glycol and a copolymerizable monomer capable of forming urea linkages with the diamine and urethane linkages With the glycol.

derived from a polyether glycol, the dlamines being all or predominantly secondary diamines. that can be used are melt polymerization, solution. and interfacial polymerizations. The physical make-up of the polymer is such that the polymer has a high melt order transition temperatime a polymer of this type having these characteristics has been prepared. Physically, the polymer is composed of at least two segments: one segment which is crystalline condensed in any desired sequence. Since the finalproducts are derived from a polyether glycol and a urea linked by urethane ureas.

ment formation.

In general, the linear segmented polymers of this invention may containing terminal nitrogen atoms, to each of which nitrogen atoms is attached one of the indicated free valences of the radicals A-- and D,, with the proviso that Patented Mar. 22, 1960 amide, or sulfonamide linkages.

only a single unit of the polyurea),

some of the urea segments being. connected by urethane linkages of the formula r ii -.-N-c-o-- wherein 1, is one of the terminal nitrogen atoms of the aforementioned radical -,A-', to polyether residues which are theradicals remaining afterremoval of the terminal hydroxyl groups of a polyether glycol consisting essentially of divalent hydrocarbon groups joined by intralinear ether oxygen atoms, the polyether glycol having a melting point below about 50 C. and a molecular weight above about 600, the urea segments constituting from about to about 40% by weight of the said polymer. 7 There are three reactions which may be considered as generally suitable for preparing the copolymers of this invention by the polymerization techniques mentioned above. These routes involve reactionsof (1) diisocyanate plus a disecondary diamine plus a polyether glycol, (2) a biscarbamyl chloride of a disecondary diamine plus a diprimary diamine or a diseconary diamine plus a polyether glycol or its bis(haloformate), and (3) phosgene plus a disecondary diamine plus a polyether glycol, as, for example, by simultaneously reacting phosgene, trans-2,S-dimethylpiperazine and poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol.

Compositions which contain about 10% by weight of the high melting segment about 60% to about 90% the polyether glycol described herein can to about 40% or, conversely, of the segment derived from will be elastomers. The processes be used for making polymers outside this range but the filaments therefrom, although we ful, are not preferred since they are not elastic. -It has beenfouud that the best elastomers are produced-when the difunctional macro-molecule, he. the polyether glycol or its urethane-forming derivative, forms a segment which is substantially amorphous at room temperatures. Elastomers having polymer melt temperatures above 150 C. are preferred for filament formation' The elastic compositions of this invention show high elastic recovery (above 9 0%), low stress decay (below 20%), and frequently have a higher modulus than rubber which is the nearest known equivalent in terms of elastic properties. Elastic recovery is the percentage return to original length within one minute atterthe' tension has been released from a sample which-has been elongated 50% at the rate of 1 00% per .minute and held at 50% elongation for one minute. is' the percent loss in stress; in a'yarn one minute after it has been elongated to 50% at the rateof 100% per minute.

The high melting component is a urea, but as has been indicated previously, it is not escntial that it be a homopolymer. Polymer compositions in which the high melting component contains a majority of urea segments which when prepared as separate polymers have polymer melt temperatures above 200 C. when the molecular weight is in the fiber-forming range are satisfactory. If the high melting component is a copolymer, it may be a copolyurea, or it may contain urethane, In many instances, the The melting point for the dependent upon the length of some extent, upon the molecular copolyureas are preferred; high melting segment is this segment and, to

weight of the polyether that is to be used. As the'high.

melting segment becomes shorter, it is preferred that'it be a unit of a higher melting polymer. For those copolymers in which the urea segment is reduced-to the minimum (i.e., the polyether segments are separated'by it is preferred that Stress decay this be, a. urea unit of a polymer which melts above 250 C.

The polyether glycol may be a homopolymer or a copolymer. The essential features are that they be difunctional and have a meltingv point below 50 C. The polyethers are primarily poly(alkylene oxide) glycols but some of the oxygens may be replaced with sulfur atoms and some of the alkyl'ene groups may be replaced with arylene or cycloaliphatic radicals. Even where the linkages are the same, the compositions may be copolymers, such as acopolyether derived from more than one glycol. Copolymers are particularly useful when one of the macromolecular homopolymers melts too high to be useful in the process. Copolymer formation can then be used to reduce the melting point and also reduce or minimize undesirable crystallization in this segment of the final copolymer. These macrointermediates may have hydroxyl or chloroformate end groups, as long as they are capable or reacting with one of the monomeric constituents ofthe high melting component to form a urethanelinkage. In any event, polymers prepared in accordance with this invention are similar to filamentforming and in elastic properties, while polymers prepared outside the melting point or molecular weight limitations of this invention will difier in such properties. I

The scope of the invention is readily understood by referring to the following examples, which are given only for illustrative purposes gand which should not be considered to represent the limits of the invention.

Example I Three mols of poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol having a molecular weight of approximately 1000 was re acted with two mols of 4-methyl-rn-phenylene diisocyanate'. A low molecular weight polymer having hydroxyl end groups and containing an average of three poly(tetramethylene oxide) groups per molecule was obtained. This product was then reacted with two mols of 4-methyl-m-phenyle'ne diisocyanate per mol to provide isocyana'te' end groups.

This macromolecular diisocyanate (12.34 grams) was dissolved in 125 ml. of N,N-dimethylformamide along with 1.32 grams of 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate. To this was added with rapid stirring 1.24 grams of trans- 2,5-dime thylpiperazine dissolved in 25 ml. of N,l-l-dir'nethylformamide. The polymer obtained after a few minutes reaction at room temperature had an inherent viscosity of 2.30 and a polymer melt temperature of 278 C. This copolyurea/urethane contained 15% by weight of an alternating copolyurea derived from the dimethylpiperazine and 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate'and by weight of urethane units'derivd from the reaction of 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate and poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol; Films prepared from this polymer had a tenacity of 0.23 g.p.'d., an elongation of 589%,an initial modulus of 0.09 g.p.d., a stress decay of 4.5, and a tensile recovery of 98%. A similar polymer is obtained by' reacting 4-methyl-rnphenylenediamine with polfltetramethylene oxide) bischloroformate and the biscarbamyl chloride of 2,5-dimethylpiperazine.

hExample ll with adequate stirring for. 15minutes at room.temp era-.-

" viscosity "of 2.19.

286 CLwa's ob: tained. This copolyurea urethane contained '1'5%' by trite. (A polymer with an inherent and "a polymer 'melt temperature of weight of copolyurea units derived from the reaction of dimethylpiperazine with 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate and 85% by weight of urethane units derived from the reaction of 4-methyl-m-phenylcne diisocyanate and poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol. was dissolved in a 60/40 mixture of trichloroethane/formic acid. Films cast fromthis solution had a tenacity of 0.58 g.p.d., an elongation of 640%, an initial modulus of 0.18 g.p.d., a stress decay of 8%, and a tensile recovcry of 93%.

Example 111 315 C. was obtained. This copolyurea urethane con-v copolyurea units derived by tained'40% by weight of reacting the dimethylpiperazinewith 4-methyl-m-phen-, ylene diisocyanate and 60% derived from the reaction of cyanate and 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisopoly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol. The polymer was dissolved in a 60/40 mixture of trichloro ethane/formic acid and films cast from this solution.v They had a tenacity of, 0.34 g.p.d., an elongation of 293%, and an initial modulus of 0.2 g.p.d.

ExamplaI V jl'l hemacrodiisocyanateof Example I (74grams) was dissolved in 650ml; of N,Ndimethylformamide alongwith 12.87 grams of 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate and placed in a blendor.

dissolved in '100 ml. of the formamide. minutes reaction at room temperature, a polymer with an inherent viscosity of 3.5 and a polymer melt temperature of 290 C. was obtained. This copolyureav urethane contained 25% by weight of alternating polyurea units derived from the reaction of the dimethyl-, pip'erazine with 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate and 75% by weight of trimer urethane, that is, amacrodiisocyanate prepared under conditions such that the product had an average structure:

, mo- Nnooo omomomomonooNrt or. is

instead of the monomer of Example II with the structure:

ITICO rhc-4mo o o (onionionzonzopo OIFH The polymer in 125 ml. of N,N-dimethylby weight of urethane units To this was added with vig- =orous stirring 9.52 grams of trans-2,S-dimethylpiperazine After several NCO Filaments were produced melt when heated to 300 C.,

- ample was reacted with 9.44.

1 rived from the step-wise reaction preceding example ml. of N,N-dimethyl-- with 4.98 grams of 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate and the solution placed in a blendor. To'this was added rapidly with vigorousstirring a solution of 3.62 grams of trans-2,5-dimethylpiperazine in 25 ml. of the formamide. After several minutes reacurethane conalternating copolyurea units This copolyurea tained 40% by weight of obtained from the reaction of the dimethylpiperazine with 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate and 60% by weight of trimerunits. This polymer was dissolved in a 60/40 trichloroethane/formic acid mixture and films cast from this solution. They had a tenacity of 0.49 g.p.d., an elongation of,320%, and an initial modulus of0.65 g.p.d.

Example VI ;Poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol (300 grams) with a molecular weight of 1000 was reacted with 35 grams of 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate. This macrogly-' col (22.3 grams) methylenediphenylisocyanate to produce the corresponding macrodiisocyanate. This compound (25.6 grams) was dissolved in 200 ml. of N,N-dimethylformamide along; with 2.71 grams of p,p'-methylenediphenylisocyanate, and the solution placed in a blendor. was added rapidly with vigorous stirring 1.99 grams of' trans-2,S-dimethylpiperazine dissolved in 50 ml. of N,N-'.'

dimethylformamide. After several minutes reaction at' room temperature of polymer with an inherent viscosity: of 2.9.2 and a polymer melt'temperature above 3009.10"-

by weight of alternating copolyurea units .derived from: the reaction of .the dimethylpiperazine with p,p'-methyl-J enediphenylisocyanate and by weight of alternating copolyurethane units derived from the step-wise reactionof 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate and p,p'-methyl-" enediphenylisocyanate with poly(tetramethylene oxide) 'A 15% solution was prepared by dissolving this polymer in a 60/40 trichloroethane/formic acid mixture.. This solution was .dry spun to 'give as-spun fila-' ments with a tenacity of. 0:57 g.p.d., an elongation of: 5.73 an initial modulus of 0.09 g.p.d., a stress decay of 8%, a tensile recovery of 94%, and a fiber stick temperature of 220 C.

Example VII The macroglycol (67. grams) from the preceding exgrams of .4-,4'-diphenylene diisocyanate to produce the corresponding 'macrodiis ocyanate. This macrodiisocyanate (76.44 grams) was dissolved in 600 ml. of N,N-dimethylformamide along with.

14.2 grams of 4,4-diphenylene dissocyanate, and this solution was placed in a blendor. To this was added' rapidly with vigorous stirring 9.12 grams of trans-2,5-dimethylpiperazine dissolvedin ml. of the formamide. After several minutes reaction atroom temperature a polymer with an inherent viscosity of 3.5, which did not was isolated. This copolyurea urethane contained 30% by weight of alternating. copolyurea units derived from the reaction of the dimethylpiperazine with 4,4-cliphenylene diisocyanate and 70% by weight of alternating copolyurethane units de-',' of 4-methyl-m-phenyl-'. e'ne diisocyanate and 4,4'-diphenylene diisocyanate with poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol. The polymer was dissolved in N,N dimethylformamide to produce a 30% solution, which was dry spun to give as-spun filaments. with a tenacity of 0.91 g.p.d., an initial modulus of 0.19I

ag e. mew o urethane contained 20% I:

' tion placed in a blendor.-

g. a aj 'stress deeawM 1095?a teastlerecev ry of88'%;' and a fiber-stick temperature of 220- C;

Example; VIII The'macroglycol (22.31grams) .ot the preceding example was reacted with 3.3- grams' of p,p"-methylened1.-

phenylisocyanate to give the corresponding macrodiisocyanate. This product (25.6 grams) was dissolved in 200- ml. of grams of p,p-methylenediphenylisocyanate and the solu- To thiswas added rapidly with vigorous stirring 3.31 grams of trans-2,5-dimethylpiperazine dissolved in 50 ml. eral minutes reaction at room temperature, a polymer with an inherent viscosity of 3.5,and a polymer melt temperature above 300 C. was-obtained. This copolyurea urethane contained 30% by weight of alternating copolyurea units derived from the reaction of the dimethylpiperazine with p,pi-methylenediphenylisccyanate, and 70% byweight of the alternating copolyurethane units of. Example VI. The polymer;wasdissolved in N,N-d imethyltormamide to give a 30%solution, which was dry spun to produce as-spun filamentswith a tenacity' of 0.94 g.p.d., an elongation of 510%,1an in'tial modulus of 0.25 glp.d., a-st'ress de'cay of-9%;- and a tensile recovery of 94%.- A similar polymer' is obtained by reacting p,p'- diaminodipheriylmethane with poly(tetramethylene oxide) bischloroformate and the -biscarbamylchloride of 2',5 dimethylpiperazine.

Example IX The macroglycol (67 grams) from the preceding err-- ample was-reacted with 9.44' grams of 4,4-'-diphenylene' diisocyanate to give the corresponding macrodiisocyanate. This product (76.44 grams) was N,N-dimethylformamide alongw-ith 9.44 grams of 4,4- diphenylenediss'ocyanate and thesolution-wasplaced in a bl'eudor; stirring, 6.84 grams-oftraus-LS-dimethylpiperaZine dissolved in 100 ml. of the formamide; After several min utes reaction at 'roorntemperature a polymer with an inherent viscosity 015 2.8 was-obtained which did not melt when heated upito 300 C. This copolyurea urethane contained 20% by weight ofalternating copolyurea units derived from the reaction of dimethylpiperazine with 4',4'-diphenylene.diisocyanate and 80% byweight of the alternating .copol'yureth'ane units of the preceding example The polymer wasdissolved-in N,N'dimethylformamide to give a 30%: solution, which was dry spunto produce as-spun filaments with a 'te'nacity'of 0.90 g;p.d.,

' anelon'gation of 530%, an'initial-modulus of 0.12 g.p.d.,

a stress decay of 10%, a tensile recovery a fiber stick temperature'of.220 'C.

Example X'- of 88%, and

' 4-methyl-'m-phenylene"diisocyanate (1.50 grams) was dissolved in approximately '10 ml. of'beneenev containing about 0.06" gram of triethylaminei This solution was" added to 20.2 grams of a benzene solution containing" N,N dimethylformamide along with 5.59

of the formamide. After sev-v dissolved' in 600 ml; of-

To this was I added rapidly with vigorous-"- urethane units 5.80 grams of poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol with a" molecular weight of 3265'. The reaction mixture was diluted'to'40 ml. with benzene and the reaction con tinued for about 1.5 hours at 50 C. to provide the derivative'ofthe glycol with diisocyanate ends.

Benzene (10 ml.) was added with vigorous stirring" toa solution preparedbydis'solving 0.1 gram of sodium Lorol sulfat'e'PT, 0.21 grams of trans-2,5-dimethyl piperazine; and a 'fewidropsoi 0.1 N sodium hydroxide in"20ml; of water; Ortholeum 162 (0.02 gram) was added'to'am ml. al-iquotpf' the macrodiisocyanate solutiodprepared above and this added rapidly with vigorous stirringto' the aqueous solution. Bolyme'r. "was" collected after stirring had lbeen continued for-approximately 20 minutes atjmemremperature; This polymer. contained 25%." by,' weight 'of alternahg polyurea units derived ffdm the reaction of tlie' dimethylpiperazine and 4-me'th cyanate and by weight of yl m phenylene 'derivedirom the glycohwith lthefdiisoc'y ariate;

Example XI The process of the preceding except that 0.20 gram of the dimethylpiperazine.

reaction mixture to bring coagulated polymer. 7

Example XII The macroglycol (30 grams) from the preceding example was reacted with 3.50 grams of 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate to produce a trimer" with hydroxyl ends. This was reacted with 5.0 grams of -p,p-methy1I- enediphenylisocyanate to give with-isocyanate ends. Thisproduct was dissolved iii-' ml; of N,N-dimethylformarnide. p,p'-rnethylenediphenylisocyanate. To this was added rapidly with vigorous stirring a solution of 2.47 grarnsoi p,p"-diarninodiphenylmethane and 1.71 grams of trans- 2,5-dimethylpiperazine 42 m1. of N,N-dimethylform'-- amide. After 15 minutes reaction at room temperature, a polymer was obtained which had an inherent viscosity. at hexamethylphosphoramide of melf when heated up to 300 C.- This polymer, con tained 20% by weight of alternating polyurea unitsgon'e segmentofwhich was derived from the reaction of p,p' =v diaminodiphenylmethane with 'p,p'-methylenediphenyliso-' cyanate and the other segment was derived from a Tea'c tion of the dimethylpiperazine with this 'diisocyanate.-

Example X111 A trimer was prepared from the poly(tetramethylene oxide)" gxl'ycol and 4-metliyl-m'vphenylene diis'o'cyante as described in the preceding example. reacted with 3.0 grams of cyanatef This product was dimethylformamide along with 5.25 grams of'-4-methylmhenylene diisocyanate. To this solution was added rapidly'with vigorous stirring 3.36 grams of piperazine dissolved in 100 ml. of the formamide. After 15 minutes reaction at room temperature a polymer with an. inherent viscosity in hexamethylphosphoramide of 1.02 and apolymer melt temperature of approximately 290 C.' was obtained. by weight of alternating polyurea unitsderived from the reaction of piperazine with. 4-inethyl-m-phenylene diisot rimer units.

Example XIV 4-methyl-m-phenylene diiso- The -trimer (32.0 grams) with hydroxyl-ends ofthepreceding example was reacted with 2.60 grams of hexamethylene diisocyanate to produce a trimer with iso cyanate ends. This product was dissolved in 100 ml. of N,N-dirnethylformamide along with 4.20 grams of hexamethyiene 'diisocyanate. To this" solution was added rapidly with vigorous stirring a solution of 4.64 grams of trans-2,5-dirnethylpiperazine in 100 ml. of N,N-dimethylformamide. After 15 minutes reaction, a polymer with an inherent viscosity in hexamethylphosphoramide. of. 0.85 and a. polymer melt temperature of 220. .C. was obtained. This polymer contained 25% by weight of alternating polyurea units derived from the reaction of dimethylpiperazine with hexamethylene diisocyanate and 75% by weight of alternatingpolyurethane units derived.

fromthe. step-wise reaction of poly(tetramethylene. oxide) 1 Example X-V prepared by 'the selflcondensa'ion ofmonothioglycolf 8 I diisacyanate and 75% by: weightor r sident hef ec d exam-plewas repeated piperazine were substitutedfor In this case,it was necessary to add a small quantity of 0.1 N sodium hydroxide to the the pH to 7. Approximately 40 minutes stirring was required to obtain-a satisfactorythe corresponding .trime'rf along with 3 .75 grams of.

0.85 and which didinot dissolved in 100 ml. of N,N-

This copolyureaurethane contained 25% This macroglycol (71.55 grams) was reacted with 10.50 grams of 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate to produce a corresponding macrointermediate with isocyanate ends. This product was dissolved in 500 ml. of dimethylformamide along with 7.86 grams of 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate. To this solution was added rapidly with vigorous stirring a solution of 8.55 grams of trans-2,5- dimethylpiperazine in 100 ml. of N,N-dimethylformamide. After minutes reaction at room temperature a polymer with an inherent viscosity in m-cresol of 1.03 and a polymer melt temperature of 290 C. was obtained. This copolyurea urethane contained by weight of alternating polyurea units derived from the reaction of 4-methyl-m-phenylene diisocyanate with dimethylpiperazine and 80% by weight of urethane units derived from the reaction of the macroglycol with the diisocyanate. This polymer was dry spun from a 60/40 trichloroethane/formic acid solution to produce as-spun filaments with the following properties: tenacity=0.l7 g.p.d., elongation=700%, initial modulus=0.09 g.p.d., and stress decay=18%.

The expression polymer melt temperature, as used here, is the minimum temperature at which a sample of the polymer leaves a Wet, molten trail as it is stroked with moderate pressure across a smooth surface of a heated brass block. Polymer melt temperature has sometimes in the past been referred to as polymer stick temperature. Fiber stick temperature is the temperature at which the fiber will just stick to a heated brass block when held against the surface of the block for five seconds with a 200 gram weight. Initial modulus is determined by measuring the initial slope of the Stress strain curve.

The diamines used to prepare these polymers may be any primary or secondary aliphatic, alicyclic, heterocyclic, or aromatic diamine. It has been pointed out earlier that at least 50 mol percent of the diamines should be secondary diamines. The use of secondary diamines reduces the number of urea hydrogens, that is, the hydrogen atoms in the group -NHCONH. This reduces the possibility of cross-linking with diisocyanates, since isocyanates react much more rapidly with urea hydrogens than with urethane or amide hydrogens. It also tends to lower interchain forces asv a result of the decrease in hydrogen bonding. These differences make themselves evident in the form of an increase in solubility over the customary urea polymers. Thus, these polymers are particularly adapted to the preparation of filaments. Accordingly, the ureas prepared from compositions in which all of the diamines are disecondary diamines are preferred. This invention provides high melting, soluble urea polymers from which solutions in common solvents sufiiciently concentrated for spinning filaments'can readily be prepared.

Representative examples of suitable secondary diamines are N,N-dimethyltetramethylene diamine, N,N'- dimethylphenylene diamine, N,N'-dimethyl-p-xylylene diamine, N,N'-dirnethyl-l,4 diaminocyclohexane, piperazine, and trans-2,5-dimethylpiperazine. These latter two diamines are preferred because high melting polymers with unusually high solubility can be prepared from them. Mixtures of these secondary diamines, as well as mixtures of secondary diamines with primary diamines, such as ethylene diamine, tetrarnethylene diamine, penta methylene diamine, hexamethylene diamine, heptamethylene diamine, octamethyleue diamine, p-xylylene diamine, 1,4-diaminocyclohexane, p-phenylene diamine, l-methyl 2,4 diaminobenzene, bis (p-aminocyclohexyl) methane, and many others may be used. Derivatives of these diamines may also be used as long as the substituents do not interfere with the polymerization. For example, theymay have hydrocarbon side chains or be substituted with halogens or nitro groups which are inert under the conditions used therein.

' The secondary diamines'may be used in the form of their bis(carbamyl halide) derivatives to prepare the ureas. These maybe reacted with disecondary diamines urea hydrogen, or they may be reacted with diprimary diamines to produce monosub stituted ureas. Ureas of the latter type may also be prepared by reacting a disecondary diamine with a diisocyanate. Hydrogen-free ureas may also be obtained by reacting a disecondary diamine with phosgene. I

Aliphatic diisocyanates, such as, hexamethylene diisocyanate, may be used but the aromatics are preferred. Of these the symmetrical, such as phenylisocyanate, are preferred, because the polymers therefrom are more soluble and the fibers therefrom have higher fiber stick temperatures.

Representative polyetber glycols which may be used include the polyoxathiaalkylene glycols, such as po1y(1- poly( 1,4 dioxa 7 thianonane), the poly(alkylene Some of the alkylenes in these polyethers may be replaced with arylenes or cycloaliphatic radicals.

The preferred difunctional polyethers are poly(alkylene oxide) glycols, which may be represented by the formula R Generally, this will The preferred macrointermediate of this type is poly- (tetramethylene oxide) glycol and/ or its derivatives. Particularly useful are copolymers formed when this is combined with dimethylpiperazine, and one or more of the following diisocyanates: 4-methyl-rn-phenylene diisocyanate, p,p'-methylene diphenylisocyanate, and/0r 4,4- diphenylene diisocyanate. Trimers containing three glycol units and having isocyanate ends and the corresponding dimers have been found useful in preparing polymers by solution or interfacial polymerization methods. Of particular interest are the elastic compositions prepared by proper combination of any of these ingredients.

Three'methods are used for type. They are: 1) melt facial polymerization, Melt polymerization preparing polymers of this polymerization, (2) interand (3) solution polymerization.

there are urea hydrogens present, since it is diflicult to avoid gel formation and cross-linking. Very little gel formation or cross-linking can be tolerated in polymers which are to be used for filament formation.

Interfacial polymerization has rapidly been attaining increased importance in the polymer field. It is a rapid moderate temperature reaction in which the reactants are brought together in such a way that the reaction zone is at, or is immediately adjacent to, a liquid-liquid interface. Thus, most of the molecules of at least one of the reactants must diffuse through liquid diluent toarrive at the reaction zone. For preparing the polymers of this invention the reactants in one liquid phase may be one or more of the diamines and the reactants in the other liquid phase may be one or more of the diisocyanates.

s of appropriate solvents.

be non-elastic at room temperatures.

Other combinations are possible, as has been indicated earlier. The two liquid phases are mixed to form a two- 'phase system in which the diamine and the diisocyanate are in separate phases, at least one of which includes a liquid diluent; Preferably, a reactant is a liquid under the reaction conditions or is dissolved in a diluent, but one of the reactants may be dispersed or suspended as a finely divided solid in a diluent which will dissolve it, at least partially. Thephases are mixed until the desired condensation polymerization has taken place and then,

. if desired, the polymers obtained are isolated.

' Low molecular weight polymers have been prepared for some time by forming a homogeneous solution of reactants and allowing the reaction to continue at moderate temperatures or heating to produce the polymers. However, only recently have high molecular weight polymers been prepared successfully by this method. The solution polymerization method used here for preparing polyureas involves, for example, dissolving diarnines and diisocyanat'es' in'separate portions of the same solvent, and then mixing to form high molecular weight polymers. The molecular weight of the polymers is controlled by the choice of the solvent medium or by the use of mixtures.

The solvent is one which is inert to the reactants and is usually selected to produce a high molecular weight polymer. I

' For optimum results, the copolyureas of this invention should have an inherent viscosity of the order of 1.0-4.0 or above, although copolymers having inherent viscosities as low as 0.5 are useful. Polymers in the lower molecular weight range are useful in certain applications, such as in preparation of coatings and molded objects. However, the ones of. particular interest are those with molecular weights in the fiber-forming range, i.e'., above about 5,000. Inherent viscosity is defined as ln g in which a, is the viscosity of a dilute solution of the polymer divided by the viscosity of the solvent in the same units and at the same temperature, and C is the concentration in grams of the polymer per 100 ml. of solution. The inherent viscosities recorded here were measured in m-cresol/formic acid mixtures. In most cases, a concentration of 0.5 gram per 100 m1. of solu tion was used. s

Whenpolymers are prepared by the interfacial or solution'methods, the polymers frequently separate as soon as they have reached an adequate molecular weight value. If this does not happen, the polymer can be separated by the addition of a precipitating and/or coagulating agent; However, it is possible to prepare concentrated solutions of many of these polymers by the use of these techniques, and such solutions can be used directly in the preparation of filaments, bristles, films, and similar articles.

This invention represents an important development inthat it demonstrates for the first time a method for preparing polyether/ urethane/ urea polymers which have both a high polymer melt temperature and a low glass or second order transition temperature. A number of rubbery polymers with relatively low second ordertransition temperatures have been prepared. These polymers have invariably had low polymer melt temperatures-and tended to creep on extension. Therefore, it has usually 7 been necessary to cross-link them in order toobtain good :elastic properties. These limitations have restricted their usefulness. For example, the insolubility andinfusibility of the cross-linked products makes subsequent shaping diflicult. Polymers with high polymer melt temperatures also have'had, in the past, high second order transition temperatures; this means that they tend to. The transition temperaturejcan be lowered and the room temperature elasticity. correspondingly increased through copolymer sense formation. However, this has invariably led to a large drop-in the polymer melt temperature. Theelastic polymers of this invention are unique in that they are linear polymers with properties equivalent to 'thoseof the cured cross-linked elastic products now available. This has been accomplished by substituting crystalline regions of the high melting components to replace the chemical cross-links of cured elastomers, such as rubber. The absence of chemical cross-links results in improved solubility. The practical .end resuit is that these polymers can be dissolved in fairly common solvents which can be used to prepare solutions that can be readily adapted to the preparation of films and filaments and similar articles in conventional equipment.

The copolyureas of this invention have properties which make them useful in many applications. Thus, they can be molded to form a variety ofshaped objects, extruded to form rods, bars, tubes, films, filaments, fibers, and the like. In film form they are useful as shoe-upper leather replacements or for use in shoe soles and heels, or as safety glass interlayers. The filaments are useful in such applications as fabrics, fishing lines, rope, papers, felts, among others. The elasticpolymers of this invention are useful as binders in papers and laminates.

The elastic copolyureas are a particularly desirable feature of this invention. The best compositions of this invention exhibit stress decay properties equivalent to those of rubber. The higher tenacities, high initialmodulus, superior abrasion resistance and more easily controlled elongation of these polymers fit them for many applications, particularly in filament form, for which rubber is undesirable. Most of these copolymers possess the additional advantage that they are easily fabricated. A large percentage of the rubber threads used are prepared by slitting rubber sheets. This produces relatively large denier filaments, which cannot be converted readily to multifilaments and are not acceptable for many uses, particularly in certain fabrics. Finer denier monofilaments and multililarnents can be prepared by extruding and coagulating rubber dispersions, but this process has proved to be expensive and the product is frequently unsatisfactory, Both types of rubber filaments have poor abrasion resistance.

Some of these copolyureas also possess the desirable characteristics of being hydrophylic. The ability to absorb moisture is desirable for a textile fiber because of the fact that the fabrics made from them are more comfortable to wear. The low moisture absorption of many of the hydrophobic fibers now available is undesirable in many applications. A polymer with high water absorption characteristics also has interesting applications in film form, particularly as a replacement forleather in shoe uppers. ."The copolyureas of this invention are more resistant to attack by oxygen-than any other class of elastomer known. However, it is sometimes necessary to stabilize certain of the compositions to heat or radiation by ultraviolet light. Fortunately'this can be done very readily by incorporatingstabilizers. Satisfactory stabilizers comprise phenols and their derivatives, amines and their derivatives,-. compounds containing both hydroxyfand amine groups, hydroxyazines, oximes, polymeric phenolic esters, and salts of multivalent metals in which the metal is in its lower'valence state. An extensive list of'suitable stabilizers is given in copending application, Shivers, Serial No. 329,114; filed December 31, 1952, now abandoned.

Films and filaments can be prepared by melt,dry or wet spinning procedures. In melt spinning, care should be. taken to avoid thermal degradation. In shaping filaments using solutions, solvents whichhave been found satisfactory for preparing solutions of suitable concentration are .N ,N-dimethylformamide, NJl dimethylacet-r amide, tetramethylene cyclic sulfone, formic acid, and higher molecular weight polyether glycols may have ap 60/40 trichloroethane/formic 'acid mixtures; parent melting points as high as 55. C. The"hard" Conventional conditions are used for dry spinning, exsegmentsmay be combined with the low melting segments P that the elastic filaments usually have. to be faked to produce a large number of the elastomers of this inor lubricated, usually with water, because they tend to 5. vention.v

e somewhat taCKvimmediaIeIY after extrusion p As many Widely different embodiments of this invens speeds are s y m h lower n those used tion may be made without departing from the spirit and tained with the elastic filaments of this invention. This 1 except as d fi ed in the appended claims. is considered excellent for filaments of this type. w l i e11 Wet Spinning, Spinning Speeds are usually 1. A' filament-forming linear-segmented polymer conlower, but this procedure has a definite advantage when solvent for wet spinning 1S N,N-dimethylformamide. M urea said repeating i being of h f ones. n shaped articles can be p p y extruding. containing terminal nitrogen atoms, to each of which,

some instances heat coalescence will be satisfactory but ences of h id di l A d i h h for Others a Solvent will have to be used to Promote proviso that not more than 50% of, said nitrogen atoms: coalescence Shaping and P ym fi 681131180 be bear hydrogen, thesaid polyurea having a melting point of at least 200 C. in the fiber-forming molecular weight A drawing operation is usually not necessary to derange, at least some of said urea segments being velop desirable properties, particularly satisfactory elastic meted by urethane linkages f the f l properties, in these filaments. However, the overall prop- 0 erties of the films and filaments prepared from many of H these copolyureas are frequently improved by a cold so drawing operation, which results in increased orientawherein tion and crystallinity in the final structure. Therefore, I

prior to final packaging, the yarns can be drawn at a suit- N- able draw ratio, example, 2 10X, for the P F is one of the terminal nitrogen atoms of the aforemenp y s and relaxed, to g a Product Wlth a tioned radical A-, to polyether residues which are the desired combination of tenacity, initial modulus, yarn elongation, elasticity, etc.

The elastic polymer yarns of this invention are charof divalent hydrocar acterized by higher strength and streach modulus and substantially better abrasion resistance than any rubber 40 ing point below about C. and a molecular weight threads kHOWIl- Stretch modulus measures the force above about 600, said urea segments constituting from required to elongate the yarn? given R A about 10% to about 40% by weight of the said polymer. ment made of yarns having high tenacity and high stretch modulus will not only be durable but will also exert suband into low denier filaments. They have superior abra- 50 point above 200 C. i the sion resistance, a very low inherent color, may be dyed 5000 id comple by common dyestuifs, need no plasticizers which might the grgup i t later be leached out of the yarn, and have a good resistcarbamyl h lid f 81166 f pel'splranoll greases and Q other Common said polyether segments being the residu chemicals. Furthermore, these elastic yarns are capable m l f th of very quick elastic recovery, a property which is lackhydr yLterminated polyether h vi ing in many of the so-called elastic fibers. b l w bout 50 C.

hard or high melting polymer with a soft or low oxide) glycols, poly(alkylene arylene some meltlng Polnts 8 eXFmPhfied as follows P Y- contain a rrnnor proportion of urethane linkages, said urea from dimethylpiperazlne and 4-methyl-m-phenylurea segments being present in an amount from about enediisocyanate decomposes at 400 C., and copolyurea 10% t about 40% by weight of said segmented pctlyfrom dimethylpiperazine and p,p-methylenediphenylisom t,

cyanate, 307 C. The melting points of the polyether 3. The process of preparing lin glycols are below about 50 C., as, for example, poly mented polymers consisting of urea segments chemically tetramethylene oxide) glycol having an average molecular connected through urethane linkag weight of 1000, about 20 C.; poly(tetrarnethylene oxide) merits which consists of reacting a glycol having a molecular weight of 1500, about 30 C.; formate of a polyether glycol havin and poly(tetrarnethylene oxide) glycol of 3000 molecuabove about 600 and a melting po' lar weight, about 40 C. The melting points of the poly- C. and a bicarbamyl halide of a ether glycols are generally not sharp and may vary for diamine with an essenti a given molecular weight. Thus, some samples of the organic diamine, said biscarbamyl halide and said organic diaminebeing capable of forming a linear crystalline urea polymer in the molecular weight carbamyl halide being present in a ratio with saidbishaloformate of said po yether 10% to about 40%o'f said urea se said segmented polymer. I a

4. The process of claim 3 wherein said organicdiaminc a disecondary diarnine; V s 1: 1.1 i 5. The linear segmental polymer o'fclaim l in the form of a filament. 6. A filament in accordance with claim 5 having'an elastic recovery above 90%" and a stress decay below 20 a. i "f: f

7. A linear segmented polymer in accordance with claim 3 with a polymer melt temperature above 150 C. 8. The polymer of claim 1 in which said polyether glycol is a poly(tetram ethylene oxide) glycol. p QL The linear segmented-polymer of claim'l in the fo'rmof'afilme f v 10. 'A process in accordance with claim 3 wherein said polyethe'r glycol has" a molecular weight betwcejnabout 800 and about 5000. 1

having a melting point "above about 200 "ments are present in I i 11. A process in accordance ith wherein nc;

glycol such that from'ahout' said fiber-forming" segmented polymers have an inherent viscosity between about 05' and about 4.

12. A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein said viscosity is between 1 and 4.

13. A process in accordance with claim 3 wherein said polyetherglycol is a poly(alkylen'e oxide) glycol.

14. A process in accordance-with claim 13 wherein said poly(alkylene oxide) glycol is poly(tetramcthylene oxide) glycol. I

1-5. A process in accordance with claim 3 wherein said disecondary' organic diamine is a heterocyclic diamine.

.16; A process in accordance with claim 15 wherein said diamine is a piperazine.

1 References Cited in the file or this patent UNITED STATES lATENTS' 2,692,874 Langcral; Oct. 26, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,7 33 South Africa .....,....7.. Feb. 1, 1954 876,906 France Aug. 24, 1942 519,014 Belgium' Oct. 5, 1953 France 1,074,451 Mar. 31, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFEQATE 0F (IQRRECTION Patent No. 2 9293303 7 March 22., 1960 August Henry Frazer et alt,

Column 3, line 23, after "(1) insert a column 4, line 22, for similar to read similar in column 8 line 37, for gxlycol" read glycol column 10, line 38 for "use or" read use in column 13, line 39, for :streach-" read stretch line 61, after "melting-"T strike out "of"; column 15, line 8 after "cklemine" insert is line l6 for the claim reference numeral "3"v read l Signed and sealed this 30th day of August 1960 ERNEST W0 SWIDER ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A FILAMENT-FORMING LINEAR SEGMENTED POLYMER CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A MULTIPLICITY OF UREA SEGMENTS CONTAINING AT LEAST ONE REPEATING UNIT OF A FIBER-FORMING POLYUREA, SAID REPEATING UNIT BEING OF THE FORMULA 